Diary

I have found a book that I think is worth reading but am not far along enough in it to say much about it yet. In the meantime, I didn't want you to worry that I have dementia and have wandered off into the woods and been eaten by coyotes. As you might expect, I've been doing my regular season-change tasks and have mailed in my income tax forms. I think that the snow is more or less over, and I installed my summer tires. One of the problems in doing this yourself is that if the car has been examined by mechanics, they often over-torque the wheel lug nuts. In Vermont, you have to have your car inspected annually, and I took mine in in January. The lug nuts were so tight that I had to buy a special tool to loosen them. I will also plant some tomato seeds indoors soon. I probably won't have to cut the grass for at least another month.

As usual, I am keeping my eyes out for the local fauna. I also try to notice annual changes, though I'm not systematic about it. Deer are coming through the yard more often now. There is also a large, fluffy skunk that I see at night that almost seems friendly. I haven't seen any bobcats or foxes for quite a while. I think that I may have reduced the local mouse population slightly by blocking them out of the house and shed. They are still present in the woods, but their density may be lower near the house now. Small predators obviously know where their food is, and are probably less interested in this location now. I'm getting a little tired of the squirrels, because there are so many of them. But they can be fun to watch. I can lie in bed in the morning and see them coming down from the treetops. There are still lots of acorns on the ground, so they have plenty to eat. It can also be interesting to watch the birds, because they have different diets. The chickadees and tufted titmice are omnivores and begin eating insects now. The goldfinches completely disappear now because they are exclusively vegetarian and seek seeds in open fields. I also get a few red-bellied woodpeckers, which are omnivores and prefer seeds to suet.

I've done a little stargazing just to make sure that the mount is properly aligned. This telescope isn't that powerful, but you can always get a good view of the moon when it's up, even during the day. Sometimes it's so bright at night that I have to use a filter with the eyepiece to see the details.

I am gradually meeting some of the neighbors, but this takes years in Vermont, especially if you live in the woods. Native Vermonters are not exactly warm and fuzzy, but many out-of-staters, previously known as "flatlander bastards," live here now. I was discussing this term recently with a native Vermonter at the food coop in Middlebury. She said that her husband is from Maine and thinks that's pretty stupid, because the mountains here aren't that tall. They're taller in New York, New Hampshire and Maine, and they're nothing compared to the Rockies, Cascades or Sierra Nevadas. Still, I like the fact that the behavior of Vermonters is generally less affected than that of city dwellers. They are down to earth in a way that makes it easier for them to have unpretentious interactions with others, though their aesthetic sensibilities may be a little limited.

Because of the war with Iran, the Trump administration seems to be collapsing at an accelerating rate. What is amazing is that he managed to do this much damage in slightly over a year. It would be a lot better if the Democratic Party had more competent leaders, though it does appear that generational changes are gradually occurring now. While there are many potentially good female politicians, you have to remember that we are just stupid primates, and humans are predisposed to respond more to alpha males. I think that a new cadre of angry male Democrats is gradually taking shape, and it actually may not take much effort to convince younger voters that they've been hoodwinked by the Republicans. In this atmosphere, I've been thinking of ways to memorialize the Trump administration. One idea is to charge Trump and members of his administration with crimes against humanity. Those found guilty might be publicly executed by hanging. They might be buried in a mass grave in the soil near the Washington Monument without embalmment or coffins. Then a giant pyramid could be built on top of them. But, partly to be eco-friendly and partly as a lesson to future Americans, the pyramid would be made of papier-mâché. After the bodies have been given time to rot, the pyramid could be removed and recycled. Potentially it could be cut into small pieces and sold to tourists. The area would then be fenced off for health reasons and to keep out grave robbers, such as Neo-Nazis in search of trophies. It would eventually be a small field covered with grass. One potential name for the site might be The Stupid Dictator Memorial.